Our Buildings

Our Buildings

St Mary’s is a cruciform structure situated centrally in the older part of the village. It’s origins are c. 1140 and replace an older Saxon structure located to the south of the present site.

The organ is a single manual.

The Church stands in a large Churchyard which is now the responsibility of Gamlingay Parish Council who ensure it is well maintained. The Church is unlocked during daylight hours.

The outside of the church

Take time when you visit the this church to look at the outside of the building. You can often find a great deal of interest in the way, and the methods, an ancient building like this was built.

For example, on the west wall of the north transept, you can see how the stones are laid in `bands'. These were the amount of work a stone-mason could do in a day. Note also how the stones change in the bands, some are obviously from different parts of the village.

Much of the stone was quarried from The Buttsin Stocks Lane.

The church, as we see it today, dates from the 13th century, largely modified two centuries later. You can see on the east wall of the tower the outline of the earlier roof, at a much steeper pitch, that was in place before the clerestory was added.

On the south wall of the chancel, by the south transept wall, can be seen a `Finger Dial', used like a sundial by the clerk to time the sermons.

There is a medieval stoop for holy water on the south side of the west door.

In 2001restoration work on the tower and bells was completed, a new bell frame installed and three additional bells donated, bringing the ring to eight.

Children are welcome at all services. An area of the Church adapted for children, where they can play, read or draw. In Gamlingay, on the first Sunday of each month families are encouraged to attend the First Sunday service which is non Eucharistic and normally lasts around 45 minutes.

The construction that is visible is mainly of locally gained fieldstone with corners and buttresses of Carr stone or limestone clunch. The North aisle is the oldest part of the Church followed by the tower . The main aisle, clerestory, present chancel and the memorial chapel were added during the 15th century in the perpendicular style. North and South Porches followed

During the 1890 restoration significant attention was paid to the roof, floor and pews.